To the Editor:
It is election time in Alexandria. It is hard to miss. Of course, the message we get from the challengers is the city is in trouble. I am not sure what city they mean. The Alexandria I know is responsive and progressive. These are a few of the awards and activities I found on the internet: 3rd safest city (population 100,000 to 500,000) in America; #13 out of 405 as best city in the U.S. for Women Entrepreneurs to Launch a Business; 100 acres of parks recently added; new and reconstructed schools; T.C. Williams Accredited High School; AAA Bond rating by Moody’s and Standard and Poors; #5 in Top 10 Best Downtowns; One of America’s Top Art Places; Platinum Level Certification from VML Green Government Challenge; Certificate of Excellence in Assessment Administration; third best city in the U.S. for Millennials; and Alexandria is rated 5th most romantic city in the U.S. Plus many new business have relocated to our city.
The challengers say we are too much in debt, but the major rating agencies recently rated the City AAA — stable. The highest rating possible. The rating agencies say the city’s management practices “strong, well-embedded and likely sustainable.”
They are the experts, not someone who is trying to get a seat on council by making false accusations.
So those that use these tactics, like the candidates running for the Republican nomination for President, continually make false assertions.
Alexandrians are smarter than to go for the challengers and their stories. The majority of Alexandrians are satisfied with the direction of the city and the quality of life with the city.
There are important activities in front of us. I trust Mayor Euille and the Democratic City Council to continue to lead us for the next three years.
Lynn Hampton
Alexandria